Key case



May 2l, 1940. E. A. KOELLING KEY CASE Filed Sept. 21. 1939 Patented `May 21, 1940 PATENT OFFICE KEY CASE Edward A. Koelling, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Leah L. Gardner, University City, Mo.

Application September 21, 1939, Serial No. 295,881

l 8 Claims. (Cl. 'Z0-456) K This invention relates tokey cases.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved key case having a tubular support attached to one marginal` edge of an enclosingr section of flexible material and provided with circumferential slots formed with enlarged holes at one end for receiving the headed ends of key hangers and pivotally vsupporting the latter, 1n combination with a plate mounted for sliding movements in a guide formed in connection with said tubular support; and a pivoted lever device for actuating said plate to open said holes and permit the headed ends of saidmhangers to be inserted into or withdrawn from sactslots"' mherobjectof the' invention is 'to provide improved releasable means for retaining pivoted key hangers in connection with a supporting element, comprising a lever and means operated thereby for moving a retaining plate to and from effective position in the support.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in whichl Fig. 1 is an open plan view of my improved key case having several detachable hooks or hangers in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the key case closed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view on the line 4-6 of Fig. 1. v n

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the present invention. the -key case being in section, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 4-6 of Fig. 1 showing the parts in position to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key hanger or hook.

Fig. 'I is a perspective view of the pivoted actuating "lever by which the hook retaining plate is moved from the 4position in which itr closes the holes through which the headedends of the hooks or hangers are passed when they are attached to or removed from the device.

Fig. 8 is an opposite plan view of the supporting plate from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the enlarged holes at the ends of the slots throughowhich .the headed ends of the key hooks or hangers are passed.

The enclosing portion of thecase is made of .exible material, usually of leather, and is formed with fold lines I and 2 providing a middle panel to form a closed key case, as shown in Fig. 2,`

and are equipped with engageable and releasable fasteners 6 and such as glove fasteners, whereby the case may be held closed or easily opened.

A unitary plate is formed to provide a flat portion 8 adapted to seat against the inner side of the panel 3 at one end, a tubular portion 9 across the-upper end of the at portion 8, and a flat portion I0 parallel with'the at portion 8 and having a rebent lower margin in continuation of the portion 8.- The parts 8 and ||J of this unitary plate are separated by an intervening space in which a plate I2 is mounted for slid-l ing movements. The ends I3 of one of the portions 8 or I0 are bent and extended across the yspace separating said portions 8 and '|0, and

Willguide and prevent endwise displacement of the plate I2. The tubular portion 9 is formed with a number of circumferential slots I4 extending approximately from the part l0 to the diametrically opposite side of the part 9. The upper ends of said slots are formed with enlarged holes I5 through which the heads I6 of the key hooks or hangers I1 may be passed. I'he diameter of the heads I6 is greater than the width of the slots I4 and is slightly less than the width ofthe holes I5. Therefore, when the heads I6 are within the tube ,9 as shown, the hooks or hangers |'I will be pivctally supported and may swing about the tube 9 so as to extend downwardly or upwardly therefrom, and can turn or rotate freely,

The upper edge of the sliding plate I2 is formed with an outwardly extended portion I8 within the tube 9 and an upwardly extended flange I9 alongthe edge, or a part of the edge, of theg to position to close the holes I5, and will yield to pressure applied against the portion I8 to permit the plate I2 to be moved downwardly to position toopen'the holes I5 (Fig. 6).

A rocking bar 2| extends into the tube 9 be-V tween the extension I8 andthe upper wall of the tube and is engaged by the ange |9f A projection 22 on the rocking bar or cam 2|` engages in a hole 23 formed in the part 8, and thereby holds `said cam bar from longitudinal displacement. One end of the cam bar 2| is dlp.

formed with a linger grip 24' whereby said carnf4 bar may be turned from the position in which in the plate I2, and also through the panel 3` of the key case. rI'hese rivets hold the parts in rmly attached relationship, and do not interfere in any way with the movement and functioning of the plate I2 to open and to close the holes I5. The part i3 does not interfere with the free swinging and pivotal movements of the key hangers.

The key hangers may be of any desired construction or form having heads IB capable of passing through holes I5 in the tubular supporting part of the device.

The construction and arrangement of the parts may be varied as widely as the scope of equivalent limits will permit without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a key case having a section of flexible material forming an enclosure, a plate attached to one end of said section, and a tubular part in connection with said plate having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; means forming a guide along one side of said tubular part adjacent to said section, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide for movement to and from position to close said` holes, a member mounted between said second plate and said tubular part for moving said second plate from a position in which it closes said holes to a position in which said holes are open, manual means for operating said member to move said second plate as aforesaid, a device for moving said second plate to a position to close said holes, and key hangers extending through said slots and having heads pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular part and having a diameter greater than said slots and less than said holes.

2. In a key case having a section of exible material forming an enclosure, a plate attached to one end of said section, a tubular part in connection with said plate having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots, and a guide extending from one side of said tubular part; key hangers extending through said slots and pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular part, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide, .an extended part in connection with said plate for opening and closing said holes, a spring for holding said plate in a positionY in which said extended part closes said holes and prevents said key hangers from becoming detached from said tubular part, and a rocking member mounted between said second plate and said tubular part for moving said second plate to a position to open said holes and permit detachment of said key hangers.

3. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; key hangers extending through saidslots and having heads pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular part and having a diameter greater than said slots and less than said holes, a closure member mounted in said tubular part and being movable from a position in which it closes said holes to a position in which said holes are open, a rocking member mounted between said closure member and said tubular part for moving said closure member to a position to open said holes and permit movement of said heads through said holes to attach key hangers to said tubular part or detach said hangers from said tubular part, and means for moving said closure member to a position to close said holes.

4. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; key hangers extending through said slots and having heads within said tubular part of greater diameter than said slots and less than said holes, a plate mounted for movement from a position in which it closes said holes to a position in which said holes are open, a rocking member mounted between said plate and said tubular part, means for rocking said member to move said plate to a position to open said holes, means for preventing longitudinal and lateral displacement respectively of said member, means for rocking said member, and means for moving said plate to a position to close said holes 5. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; a device mounted in said tubular part for movement to and from a position to close said holes, an actuator mounted between said device and said tubular part for moving said device as aforesaid, manual means for operating said actuator, and a spring for moving said device to a position to close said holes.

6. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, and a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots with enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; key hangers extending through said slots and having heads pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular part and having a diameter greater than said slots and less than said holes, a device mounted in said tubular part for movement to and from a position to close said holes, an actuator mounted between said device and said tubular part for moving said device from a position to close said holes, means for holding said actuator from displacement, a nger grip in connection with said actuator adjacent to one end of said tubular part for operating said actuator, and a spring enclosed in said tubular part for moving said device to a position to close said holes.

7. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, and a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots with enlarged holes at adjacent ends of said slots; a plate extending into said tubular part for movement -to and 'from position to close said holes, a cam member mounted between said plate and said tubular part for moving said plate from a position in which said plate closes said holes, manual means for operating said cam member to move said plate as aforesaid, a spring enclosed in said tubular part for moving said plate to a position to close said holes, and means in said tubular part preventing displacement of said spring.

8. In a key case having a section of material forming an enclosure, and a tubular part attached to said section and having circumferential slots with enlarged holes at adjacent ends of saidA 's1ots; an angular plate mounted in said tubular part for movement to and from positionl to close said holes, means in connection with said tubular part for guiding said pla'te and preventing displacement thereof, a cam member mounted between said plate and said tubular part for moving said plate from a position in Whichs'ald plate closes said holes, means in connection with said plate holding said cam member from lateral displacement, means for holding said cam member from longitudinal displacement, a finger grip for 

